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TORONTO - It seems the Brits are smitten with the Canadian super sleuth in "Murdoch Mysteries."
The show airs on UKTV's Alibi channel and the station's online fan forum is packed with kudos for the Gemini Award-winning detective series that's set in 19th century Toronto.
And star Yannick Bisson says a group of fans followed the cast around when they recently filmed in Bristol, England for the first time.
They were very protective and made sure everyone felt welcome, he said.
"It was like it was their show and we're their people," Bisson said with a laugh in a recent interview.
"And these people are very picky about their murder mysteries and they're very picky about their Victorian-era shows. And you know, they wrote the style, and for them to like it is a huge honour."
"Murdoch Mysteries" is based on the novels of Toronto writer Maureen Jennings and airs Sundays on Citytv in Canada. Bisson stars as William Murdoch, a dashing detective who employs forensic techniques that were radical in the late 1800s, like fingerprinting and trace evidence.
Helene Joy plays Dr. Julia Ogden, a pathologist and Murdoch's love interest.
Jennings lived in Birmingham, England until she was 17, so perhaps that accounts for some of the Brit love for the Canadian series. Then, of course, there are the parallels to Sherlock Holmes.
In last Sunday's Season 3 premiere on Citytv, Murdoch awakens in Bristol with a bad case of amnesia and on the most-wanted list of British intelligence agents who accuse him of murder.
Next Sunday's episode finds him back in Toronto, risking his life to probe the murder of a police constable.
Later in the season, "Murdoch will meet his match in the way of a nemesis," said Bisson. "Somebody does fool him and does get away."
"Murdoch Mysteries" has been airing since 2008 and Bisson said he doesn't take a day for granted.
"I've been in this position before - this is like my sixth series - and you just never know," said the Montreal native, whose previous credits include the TV series "Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye," "Soul Food" and "High Tide."
His upcoming film projects include "Casino Jack" with Kevin Spacey and Kelly Preston.
"There are so many events and things that conspire against the success of a show that you just never really know -whether it's a strike or global economic crises," Bisson continued.
"I mean, it can literally be one executive moves from one network to another, and whoever takes their place doesn't want to carry their baggage. It can be so many things. I personally have never done more than four seasons on a show so who knows."
